Gilbert Lani Kauhi, 66; Was in Original Cast of TV's 'Hawaii Five-O'

May 12, 2004|From Times Staff and Wire Reports

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Gilbert Lani Kauhi, 66, the actor nicknamed "Zulu" who was an original cast member of the "Hawaii Five-O" television series, died May 3 at a hospital in Honolulu. The cause of death was complications from diabetes, his mother said.

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Kauhi was a popular Waikiki beach boy when he joined the CBS police drama for its first season. He was cast as Det. Kono Kalakaua, the burly Hawaiian sidekick of the show's star, Jack Lord.

Kauhi stayed with the show four seasons, but was dismissed after an altercation with the series' publicist. After leaving the program, Kauhi performed at hotels in Hawaii.

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In the 1980s, he was convicted of negligent homicide for a traffic accident that killed a bicyclist training for the Ironman Triathlon, the Honolulu Advertiser reported. He was fined and sentenced to one year's probation.

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Kauhi had been in failing health for several years. According to an obituary in the Advertiser, his body rejected a kidney transplant he had received 18 months ago, and the organ had to be removed.